If your task list or to-do list is getting a little out of hand, then it's time to start trimming it down. But how much should you get rid of? Productivity blog A Better Mess suggests you chop off 20 percent of you tasks before you even start your day.

The idea here is pretty straight-forward. Start off by listing everything you have to do for the day, and include mundane tasks like "make coffee" or "take the kids to school." Next, remove 20 percent of it. A Better Mess explains:

There are only 24 hours in every day—Every second of which you will never get back again. The only way to have more time for the things you should be doing is to delete the things you really don't have to do. Twenty percent of 24 hours is 4.8 hours. That's almost 5 hours to do the things you want to do, love to do, or really have to do but can't seem to find the time. Problem solved. Time found.

If you're finding yourself overwhelmed with way too many tasks each day, cutting out that 20 percent can be a huge boon for your productivity and overall balance. It's also a great way to learn how to say "no" so you don't take on too many tasks in the first place.